A COLLAGE OF CONIFEROUS FOLIAGE
By bluespruce
32 comments
Conifers are probably the most diverse group of plants on the planet. The following photographs in this blog show just a small sample of the tremendous range of texture and colour to be found in conifer foliage,which comes in many shades of green, blue, and yellow. Many conifers change colour through the seasons, with the most spectacular transformation occurring in spring when new growth begins. Pines, firs, and spruces are the class acts at this time of year.
Above – The young spring growth on Abies veitchii ‘Hedergott’.
Below – Same plant, showing how the foliage has matured and changed colour later in the summer.
Below – The next three photos show the spruce, Picea mariana ‘Aureovariegata’, In the first pic it shows the emergence of new shoots first appearing in April. In the second pic, and by the end of May the new foliage has fully grown, is very soft to the touch, and light yellow in colour. In the third pic, and by early autumn the foliage has matured to more of a blue-green colour, suffused with golden flecks on the upper surfaces of the needles.
Metasequoia glyptostoboudes ‘Goldrush’, showing the brilliant yellow
foliage in high summer, and the subtle coppery tones in late autumn
Larix decidua ‘Nana’, a deciduous conifer showing it’s soft blue-green
foliage in early summer.
Below, A trio of firs that gives an insight into the contrasting colours
that can be found within this single species.
Abies koreana ‘Silberlocke’ – the needles recurve to show the silvery undersides and create a bi-colour effect on this particular cultivar.
Abies procera ‘Blaue Hexe’
Abies koreana ‘Variegata’ (Gelbunt)
Pinus strobus ‘Green Twist’
Platycladus (Thuja) orientalis ‘Franky Boy’
Thuja occidentalis ‘Golden Tuffet’ – discovered as a sport on the
ever popular Thuja occidentalis ‘Rheingold’ in the USA.
Abies concolor ‘Creamy’ – new spring growth is creamy white, before toning back down to its more normal light green
Picea orientalis ‘Skylands’ ’ displaying its attractive red immature cones in early summer.
Pinus sylvestris ‘Vargguld’ (Wolfgold) – a Scots pine that retains its golden colour all year, but intensifies during the winter months.
Glyptostrobus pencilis – related to Taxodium, and vary rare in cultivation, spectacular pink tones in late Autumn.
Tsuga canadensis ‘Gentch White’, contrast vividly with Sciadopitys verticillata ‘Feuerwerk’ (Firework)
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Rijnhof’ – enhanced by a sparkling frost in winter.
Pinus parviflora ‘Fushiro’ – changes colour from light green to a creamy-white for the winter.
Sciadopitys verticillata ‘Picola’ – dark green foliage, tips of the needles turn slightly golden as the colder weather approaches.
Calocedrus decurrens ‘Berrima Gold’ – the foliage of this conifer is an unusual orange-gold for part of the year, and here contrasting vividly with the blue sky.
Cryptomeria japonica ‘Sekkan’ – creamy-white foliage all year.
And finally, here at home is a Christmas display of conifer foliage just to show the true versatility of these plants….who needs flowers! :0)))))
29 Nov, 2009
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Comments
Ooh, what a lovely blog !
Your pictures are great, i really like Goldrush, Blaue Hexe, Golden Tuffet, Skylands, Picola and Berrima Gold !!!!!
So much so that i'll be looking out for them around here.
29 Nov, 2009
That is a great blog, and really does show the enormous variety amongst conifers. Especially liked your indoor display on the hearth. How long will that last Bluespruce? Very attractive. Our front garden has a good selection of conifers (inherited) and we have added a few. This is on a miniature scale though compared with your's. I'll do a few photos later.
29 Nov, 2009
Denise - there's only three native conifer species to the UK, Pinus sylvestris, Taxus baccata, and Juniperus communis.
Louise - the ones you mentioned should be available with a bit of searching.
Mad - did the display the Xmas before last, and I think it lasted at least three weeks, the stems were also stuck into an oasis.
29 Nov, 2009
Only three native species that is amasing, so all those very old forests were deciduous?
Did you know Taxus is used in cancer chemotherapy?
29 Nov, 2009
Denise - depends on how far you go back. There are plenty of introduced species that have naturalised of their own accord.
Didn't know about the use of Taxus in cancer chemotherapy, how does that work ?
29 Nov, 2009
Paclitaxel (Taxol) is part of the Taxanes, which includes Docetaxel (Taxotere) and Abraxane, which are made from Yew trees - genus Taxus. It is given as a cancer chemotherapy infusion for cancers such as breast.
29 Nov, 2009
Wow, just wow and thank you... don't suppose Mr MB & I can twist your arm to come to the north of bonny Scotland and give a talk on conifers to the Highland Rock Garden Club?
29 Nov, 2009
I don't come cheap Moon grower :0)
29 Nov, 2009
Very interesting blog Bluespruce with fantastic pics. I just love the picea 'skylands'.
29 Nov, 2009
Thanks Skillen, and by the way I looked at your Cedrus deodara 'Aurea' and it looks great the way you have used it in your garden.
29 Nov, 2009
Fantastic picture blog, Bluespruce. Thank you for sharing.
29 Nov, 2009
That is a compliment coming from you Bluespruce. Thankyou.
29 Nov, 2009
It's nice to see the difference in conifers through the seasons. I hope to get a few next year for my new garden, but they will have to be dwarf ones or ones that don't mind being sheared.
29 Nov, 2009
Lovely blog Blue spruce....you do have some lovely conifers. I especially like the beautiful cones on Picea orientalis ‘Skylands’.
29 Nov, 2009
Loved the Blog Blue Spruce and the xmas display ((-:
29 Nov, 2009
P.S My favorite is Frankie boy
29 Nov, 2009
Lovely blog. I have just looked at the pics of your garden... how magnificent! I shall put pics on of my small (and I mean tiny really!) conifer bed.
Your Xmas decoration is amazing. What a great idea.
29 Nov, 2009
Stunning pics...
nominated for GoYpedia Conifers....
...I hope it will be approved...;o)
29 Nov, 2009
Bluespruce, what are the dimensions of a Picea orientalis 'skylands' , say after 5/10 years? I expect it would be difficult to find though. It is gorgeous.
You really have made an art of it. Now I must go and have another look at your garden pictures.
29 Nov, 2009
Another great blog about conifers. I'll soon be planting some at this rate :-)
29 Nov, 2009
Beautiful colours and forms,love the arrangement,makes a nice change from artificial flowers :)
29 Nov, 2009
Excellent. My favourite is the Picea :-)
29 Nov, 2009
fantastic blog. I love conifers and i am amazed at how they change colour through the seasons.
Why they are considered boring beats me.
thanks bluespruce.
29 Nov, 2009
Thank you all for your comments, I do try my best to put a positive slant on conifers.
Mad - Picea orientalis 'Skylands', my plant is at least 12 years old, and about 10 feet high, it's slow growing for about 5 years. The top two pics on my photos page show the plant in my garden, it's the golden spruce on the right, and might give you a bit more idea. I have occasionally seen it for sale in garden centers, There are however a dozen nurseries listing it in the RHS Plantfinder.
29 Nov, 2009
Very interesting blog Bluespruce. Just shows how colour, shape and texture are the mainstay of any garden....and conifers really do the job! Love your Christmas foliage arrangement too...and your fireplace is very very nice....:)
29 Nov, 2009
What a Fab collection uv got of conifers BlueS :) i really enjoyed this Blog/Photos thanx 4 sharing Jacx
30 Nov, 2009
firstly blue as i know you like to correct members on mistakes lol collage means
asemblage of differant forms thus creating a new whole, so even though i love all your pics and you do a fantastic job of growing conifer this is not a collage :o)))
loved the bog though x
30 Nov, 2009
Seems like a technicality to me Sandra... how about each individual photo being the "assemblage of different forms", and the collection of photos, i.e. the blog, being the "new whole"
Glad you loved the blog, not bog! though.
Lots of love xxx
30 Nov, 2009
As you are teaching us about conifers, I reckon the title was just a typo - it should read 'A College of Coniferous Foliage' :-)
30 Nov, 2009
Could be! Andrew :0)
1 Dec, 2009
lol blue, so funny, i will let you off even if just for making me laugh this cold frosty morning :o)) xx
1 Dec, 2009
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12 Apr, 2009
Firstly you got my attention as I read devious for diverse! Great blog I have always loved conifers and usually prefer the greens and blues to the more yellowy ones, although Frankie Boy is lovely. I find them tactile and sort of shake hands with mine! Are yours native to the UK?
29 Nov, 2009